FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * SHEFFERY MICHAEL B   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ATHERSYS, INC / NEW [ATHX] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 767 THIRD AVENUE, 30TH FLOOR 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 03/16/2009 (Street) NEW YORK, NY 10017 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 03/16/2009   P   52,200 A $ 0.65 3,500,200 I By Partnerships (1) (2) Common Stock 03/17/2009   P   110,000 A $ 0.84 3,610,200 I By Partnerships (1) (2)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
SHEFFERY MICHAEL B 767 THIRD AVENUE 30TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10017	X

Signatures

/s/ Michael B. Sheffery		03/18/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	The Reporting Person is a partner of OrbiMed Advisors LLC ("Advisors") and OrbiMed Capital GP III LLC ("Capital"). The amount shown represents (i) 3,576,200 shares of Common Stock held directly by Caduceus Private Investments III, LP ("Caduceus") and (ii) 34,000 shares of Common Stock held directly by OrbiMed Associates III, LP ("Associates"). Advisors, pursuant to its authority under its investment advisory contract with Associates, may be considered to hold indirectly 34,000 shares of Common Stock and Capital, pursuant to its authority as general partner of Caduceus, may be considered to hold indirectly 3,576,200 shares of Common Stock.
(2)	The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of his pecuniary interest. This report shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is a beneficial owner for the purpose of Section 16 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose.

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